A volunteer from the Hui Up Program tests a refrigerator for energy use.

Blue Planet Foundation News Release

Replacing an old refrigerator with an energy-efficient model can reduce electricity bills by as much as $500 a year.

Molokai residents will discover this on Tuesday, July 26, as the first participants in the Hui Up Program, orchestrated by Blue Planet Foundation and Sust‘AINAble Molokai, pick up their brand new Energy Star refrigerators at Kaunakakai Regional Park from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Francois Rogers, Special Projects Director at the Blue Planet Foundation, was instrumental in bringing 36,000 CFL bulbs to Molokai. For his efforts, he was honored by the Hawaii Board of Education when it visited Molokai last year. He is now helping bring new Energy Star refrigerators here in the Hui Up Program.

Through Hui Up, Molokai residents have the opportunity to trade in their old refrigerators for Energy Star models at a significantly discounted volume purchase price negotiated by Blue Planet. These first 60 households may save as much as $150,000 in energy costs collectively over the next five years.

Each Hui Up participant also receives a Belkin Conserve Insight Energy Use Monitor that contributes to the program’s educational component.

Blue Planet and the Kuha‘o Business Center in Kaunakakai hosted three training sessions on Molokai to teach students how to assess household energy use. Under the guidance of Sust‘AINAble Molokai, working with Alu Like’s Hoala Hou program, students measured the energy consumption of the old refrigerators in Hui Up! homes. They will return in October to assess the difference with the new refrigerators.

Hui Up is made possible by program partners Hawaii Energy, State of Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) State Energy Office, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds, Servco Home and Appliance Distribution, and Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. Special thanks to Makoa Trucking for delivery and pick-up services.